You may know Morphe as one of the leading masters of artistry palettes. The brand has been able to offer us all the colours under the sun with full pigment, budget friendly, where the quality is not compromised. They’re also not ever short of a collaboration with some of your favourite makeup artists. However, they have expanded into the foundation game and have recently launched a skincare-infused base spreading across 40 shades, that cater to a variety of undertones.
This medium-coverage and oil-free foundation combines makeup with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid which serves as a hydrating base that not only offers medium coverage, but also boosts the moisture levels of the skin. It’s also formulated with vitamin E which delivers antioxidant protection and has a luxurious and pore-blurring finish that minimises the look of blemishes and discoloration.
The foundation only comes at a cost of £18, so we are extremely curious as to whether it will actually deliver, so of course we had to put it to the test. Five different people with five different skin complexions give their honest thoughts below.
The product:
Morphe Filter Effect Soft-Focus Foundation, £18, Morphe
The reviews:
Shei Mamona, GLAMOUR’s Beauty & Entertainment Assistant
Shade: Filter Rich 32
I’m a big fan of Morphe’s eyeshadow palettes, they get the pigment right, even for the deepest of complexions, and the colours appear vibrant even on my dark skin. Lots of brands are now doing wide shade ranges, but what I look for is not quantity, but it’s quality. I want a range that offers my exact shade and understands my undertones.
I went for the shade ([I]Rich 32[/I]), of which I tried to shade match using the website. I don’t always get my shade matching right, but this time I’m confident I found the one on first try, which says a lot by the shade-matching service itself. I liked the texture of the foundation, not too heavy and cakey, but not too watery and soft, which meant that it gave me that perfect balance between coverage ‘but make it natural’. I’m not a full-coverage-babe, and if that’s you, then this foundation ain’t it, but that’s just how I like it. A skincare-infused foundation, with the right shade and right undertone, and a healthy and natural dewy finish? That’s a hat-trick!
Rating: 8/10
Luca Wetherby-Matthews, GLAMOUR’s Social Media Assistant
Shade: Filter Tan 20
With this being my first dip into Morphe’s pool of face makeup, I was very curious to see what the vibe would be, but it was love at first swipe! The shade I chose (Tan 20) was a perfect match, like my-skin-but-better perfect. I get really nervous choosing a foundation shade online, and this is one of the best matches I’ve ever had. It did an incredible job of covering redness and dark circles, without looking thick or cakey.
The formula blended seamlessly into my skin, adding a glow in all the right places. Throughout the day, my skin looked hydrated and the product didn’t shift off the oilier areas of my face (amen). My one critique, however, would be that I didn’t see much of a soft-focus blurring effect on the texture of my skin and my pores were still very visible through the foundation. Other than that, I’m a big big fan, and the Filter Effect foundation has definitely landed a spot in my day-to-day rotation.
Rating: 8.5/10
Charlie Teather, GLAMOUR’s Fashion Editor,
Shade: Filter Light 7
Having had a somewhat unrequited relationship with foundation all my life, I was excited if not a tad skeptical to try out a new one which I’d shade-matched myself online. As a white woman I’m hugely aware of my privilege when choosing make-up, but I was really impressed with the shade range available across the board in Morphe’s new Filter Effect foundation. A brand that takes undertones as seriously as skin shade is also crucial for me as I suffer from rosacea and general redness, so while there was an almost overwhelming range of options it was relatively easy to whittle them down. I plumped for (Light 7) and have to say the colour match was pretty perfect.
I have combination skin, with occasional dry patches beneath my eyes and across my cheeks, and an oily chin and forehead. This is often where I struggle with foundation, and although the Filter Effect has a nice consistency I didn’t find it as hydrating as I would’ve liked. I also don’t think it’s particularly buildable, and when I applied enough for good coverage before a dinner with friends it separated slightly and creased immediately across my eyelids and dryer spots. The next day I tried a single thin layer and much preferred it, so I’d suggest this is a really great daily foundation if you want something quite light and sheer, but if you’re looking for something with good coverage over breakouts or red patches you might need to rely more heavily on your concealer.
Rating: 7/10
Elle Turner, GLAMOUR’s Deputy Beauty Editor
Shade: Filter Light 8
I love the shade range for this and the one I picked out (Filter Light 8) was pretty much a perfect match. I tend to prefer a dewier finish but what I love about this soft matte foundation is how buildable it is. It blends into skin seamlessly and manages to look natural, however it still provides plenty of coverage to even out skin and create a soft-focus blurring effect that’s super flattering. Layer it up and you can get a fuller-looking coverage that looks really perfected. What’s great is the versatility and how flexible this coverage is, it’s a great all-rounder.
Rating: 8/10
Ruby Luter, Legal Assistant
Shade: Filter Medium 9
When I first applied the foundation to my primed skin, I noticed how light it felt — I could tell it wouldn’t feel cakey on my skin. As I continued to apply a further layer, I noticed it still felt very skin-like, though I did not feel I was able to build up to a full coverage. However, the product did give me a glow, and created a lovely base for the rest of my makeup. I also feel it covered up the redness of my blemishes, and the dark circles under my eyes nicely.
Unfortunately, within the hour I did notice the product splitting slightly around my problem areas, and the product did settle into the creases of my under eye, despite me using my usual setting powder and concealer. However, I do feel this may have been because of the intense heat. Overall, I tend to prefer a more dramatic look, however if I ever wanted to go for a more natural, ‘glowy’ look, I would reach for this foundation again. I would also make sure I used it on a cooler day – which shouldn’t be a problem as I live in the cloudy UK.
Rating: 7/10
For more from Glamour UK Beauty & Features Assistant Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona